ARTICLE: IN HIS OWN WORDS - UK PROGRAM TOUR 1981
- IN HIS OWN WORDS -
Despite the unabated avalanche of fresh conquests, James Last remains a philosophic man who never takes anything for granted. He seems a contented person - although never wholly satisfied with anything he has tackled. For him, the next project is going to be better than the last. He is absolutely tireless in his professional strivings. Yet he stil manages to be immensely grateful for a happy family life (with Waltraud and son Ronand daughter Rina). But, of course, music is of inestimable importance to his whole life. As he had said in the past: "My music is me. It is the outward sign of my thoughts. My thoughts are music and my life consists of thoughts, for it is music. My orchestra is the most important medium through which I can communicate, my thoughts to other people. Media such as the record, radio, television - these are the amplifiers which distribute my thoughts millionfold. As far as my music is concerned, they are dependent on me, but as far as the distribution of my music is concerned, I have to depend on them.
"They say that dependence is a bad thing for art. But total independence is something theoretical which does not exist in reality, unless the artist is working just for himself and not for his fellow human beings. Then a composer would need no orchestra because he would hear the music through is own imagination when he reads the notes.
"But music must be made for others: art means skil and skill is used to the benefit of people. "When I make music I feel good. I'm happy. Whether it is in the studio or the concert hall with people or whether I am alone in my room...
During his distinguished career James Last has brought his music into al areas of the world. Apart from the UK and the other European countries (including, of course, his own) he has captivated audiences in such far-flung places as the USSR, South Africa, Australia, Canada, the United States, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and Hong Kong. No doubt some day we'll be reading that the very last country in the entire universe has succumbed to the musical magic of someone who has endeared himself to milions upon millions of music lovers.
And as far as Britain is concerned, we'll continue to roll out the red carpet for this musical maestro who makes time stand still.
How absolutely marvellous, once again, to extend our warmest greetings to James Last the First.
